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Windows 7 XP Mode RC Now Available

, August 05, 2009

Windows XP-based or Windows Vista-based PCs should just run natively on Windows 7

Microsoft has announced that Windows XP Mode Release Candidate for Windows 7 is now available for download. According to the company, many applications that currently run on Windows XP-based or Windows Vista-based PCs should just run natively on Windows 7. Microsoft refers to Windows XP Mode as "last mile" compatibility technology for cases when a Windows XP productivity application isn't compatible with Windows 7. Users can run and launch Windows XP productivity applications in Windows XP Mode directly from a Windows 7 desktop.

New features in Windows XP Mode RC include:

You can now attach USB devices to Windows XP Mode applications directly from the Windows 7 task-bar. This means your USB devices, such as printers and flash drives, are available to applications running in Windows XP Mode, without the need to go into full screen mode.

You can now access Windows XP Mode applications with a "jump-list". Right click on the Windows XP Mode applications from the Windows 7 task bar to select and open most recently used files.

You now have the flexibility of customizing where Windows XP Mode differencing disk files are stored.

You can now disable drive sharing between Windows XP Mode and Windows 7 if you do not need that feature.

Windows XP Mode RC requires RC or RTM version of Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise. It also requires additional 1 GB of RAM, 15 GB of available disk space, and processor capable of hardware virtualization with AMD-V or Intel VT turned on in the BIOS.

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